By WMBD-TV
SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Secretary of State is backing a new bill pending in the General Assembly that would require more transparency and disclosure regarding the financial dealings of lobbyists.
Alexi Giannoulias said the measures, contained in House Bill 4591, are pertinent given the recent sentencing of a former aide of disgraced state Rep. Mike Madigan. It’s the Secretary of State’s office that maintains lobbyist registrations and statements of economic interest filed by public officials.
“Given the recent headlines of public corruption in Illinois, it’s incumbent upon the state to enact ethical safeguards that demand accountability among those who serve the public and operate within our government,” Giannoulias said. “Illinoisans are sick and tired of scandals and ethics abuses that unfortunately have become all too common in state government.
“These reforms will go a long way toward making government more transparent and holding political insiders and influencers more accountable to fight corruption more effectively,” he said.
Aside from a nominal fine, no enforcement mechanism currently exists for the Secretary of State if lobbyists fail to comply with current reporting requirements, according to Giannoulias. The proposed law would allow his office to investigate allegations of wrongdoing and the authority to suspend or revoke a lobbyist’s registration.
The bill also requires lobbyists to provide more client information by way of compensation and would give the Secretary of State’s office the authority to suspend or revoke a lobbyist’s registration for violating the act or if convicted of certain crimes, Giannoulias said.
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